Romney Pledges to Veto DREAM Act

The New York Times reports that Mitt Romney made a promise this week at a campaign stop to veto the DREAM Act if he is elected President. He seemed to leave open a path to legalization only for those who join the military:

Mr. Romney offered his usual stump speech — a focus on President Obama, with no mention of his Republican rivals — but when a voter asked him if he’d veto the Dream Act as president, Mr. Romney said, “The answer is yes.”

Though Mr. Romney has previously been critical of the legislation, which would provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were brought into the country at a young age and then went on to attend college, Saturday marked the first time that he has outright declared that he would veto the legislation should it cross his desk as president.

“I’m delighted with the idea that people who come to this country and wish to serve in the military can be given a path to become permanent residents of this country,” he said. “Those who serve in our military and fulfill those requirements, I respect and acknowledge that path. For those who come here illegally, the idea of giving them in-state tuition credits or other special benefits I find to be contrary to the idea of a nation of law.”

He added: “If I’m the president of the United States, I want to end illegal immigration so that we can protect legal immigration. I like legal immigration.”

The Democrats and Mr. Obama’s re-election team pounced on the remark. David Axelrod, a former senior advisor to the president, took to Twitter to call the comments, “Wrong on principle & politics.”